WEEK 10

Dear All,

This is our last week, yet I would like to be in touch with all of you of course. I am so sorry for not having been active enough for the last couple of weeks because of my trips abroad and school work.

This week is another extraordinary week not only for me but also all Turkish people. You might have heard the things going on here. I just want to share it with you briefly.

We have been protesting against the Turkish government since 28 May 2013. At the beginning, there were just a few protestors who were against the government that aimed to demolish the only park, GEZİ PARK, in Taksim, one of the busiest places in Taksim. The trees in the park were torn down, and people started to assemble in the park. They were so innocent that they just wanted to protect the park because they did not want another shopping mall.

However, the police were so harsh and cruel that they chased the crowd with cannon vehicles and pepper spray. Gradually, the number of protestors multiplied. The government banned the media from spreading the news. They went event futher and they blocked the roads and cancelled public transportations.

Not only in Gezi Park, but also all around İstanbul, people from different backgrounds, political parties, and regious came together and started to protest. Unfortunately, the police were harsher than before. They chased the unarmed protestors by panzers, tanks, tear gas, pepper spray, orange spray, and plastic bullets. Many people were run over, injured, and some lost their eyes. Some animals, and people were poisioned and died.

Many people, restaurants, institutions and hospitals offer help for the ones who are in need. Still there are voluntary nurses and doctors helping everyone and sharing their contact numbers via twitter and facebook.

At the moment, not in İstanbul but in many cities in Turkey, people are on the alert.  Turkish people living abroad such as in Canada, England, the USA, and the like are protesting, too. We are all doing our best for freedom and democracy.

I guess this picture explains everything. I am so sorry for bothering you....

As for the weekly assignment, Robert wanted us to compare two models; State of Washington: Tiers of Technology Integration and University of Southern Florida: The Technology Integration Matrix to assess our own teaching usage in the class.

 The Matrix of State of Washington: Tiers of Technology Integration consists of 3 tiers.

Tier 1: Teacher Focus on Productivity
Tier 2: Instructional Presentation and Student Productivity
Tier 3: Powerful Student-Centered 21st Century Learning Environment

I mostly use tier 1 type of activities. That is, I make use of online resources to get information for my lessons, I prepare my lessons and save them for the future reference, keep students' progress, be in touch with my students via e-mails, facebook, and the like.

I have gradually started using activities from tier 2 like delivering poweroint presentations, and tier 3 such as creating online resources.

University of Southern Florida: The Technology Integration Matrix states the levels of technology integration into the curriculum. Those levels are 

Entry : Mostly, I am the only one actively using technology while presenting someting.
Adoption : If I have a lab hour, at the very beginning, I am the one who controls the type of technology and how it is used. The students are more active , but as a teacher I regulate activities.
Adaptation : This time, I dont guide my students step by step. I let my students choose their technology tools among the ones I provide if I have a lab hour.
Infusion : When there is a student project like a presentation, I guide my students
Transformation : I provide online activities and encourage my students to use technology.

Obviously, I have not integrated technology into my curriculum much so far. I am plannimg to design my curriculum and inform my students at the very beginnining of the term, so we will be actively involved in technology.

Some Advice to Future Participants

Dear Future Participants,

Congratulations! You will never ever regret having taken this course.

You will have the opportunity to meet lots of colleagues all around the world and exchange ideas.

The most crucial thing is that you need to sort out time for the course.

Do not expect lectures from your tutor, probably Robert. He does guide you and help you when you are in need of course, but he mostly encourages you to try and explore new things.

You will definitely need a PC/laptop and the internet connection.

Robert will always send you a reminder which will be ending with '....Oregon time'. It is easy to follow weekly discussions and assignments because he opens a different thread for each one.

You are more than welcome if you do research on the given subject and refer to various resources apart from the provided ones.

If you keep a diary, write your reflections or write the weekly summary on your blog, later on you can refer to them.

Trials and errors are invaluable. It is you who can only know what is best for your class, so try some online sources before asking your students to practice them.

Have a nice journey!
Best
Hacer